Process of and apparatus for making pills



(N9 Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1'.

.J. A. WHITNEY. PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING PILLS. No. 256,419. Patented Apr. 11,1882.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FORMAKING PILLS; No. 256,419.

Patented Apr. 11, 1882.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES A. WHITNEY, OF DOBBS FERRY, NEW YORK.

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING PILLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 256,419, dated April 11, 1882.

Application filed June 28, 1880. Renewed J unc 3, 1881;. Again renewed February 24, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES A. WHITNEY, of

.Dobbs Ferry, Westchester county, and State readily transferred to the mechanism for shaping them into pills; also, of so regulating the mechanism for forming the strips into pills that the perfect and symmetrical shaping of the pills-is provided for.

The invention comprises certain novel methods and combinations of parts whereby said results are effectually secured.

Figure l is a plan view, partly in horizontal section, of an apparatus constructed according to my said invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation and partial vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the part not shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional View taken in the line a; a; of Figs. 1 and 2.

A is the horizontal frame of the machine, which may be placed upon suitable supports,

and is of a configuration suitable for retaining in the proper relation with each other the workin g or operating parts of the apparatus, as hereinafter explained.

B is a flat frame, rabbeted at its lateral edges a to provide guides for the flanges b of the circumferentially-grooved roller 0, in order that the said roller may be held in proper relation with the plate B when moved'to and fro over the said plate, as hereinafter explained. The plate B, is pivoted at its inner edge, as represented atc. Placed adjacent to said inner edge of the plate B is a transversely-grooved plate, D. This plate D is provided at each side with arms d, from which extend laterally: projecting cylindric pins or pivots e, which rest in sockets or bearings f. By grasping the projecting extremity of one of the pivots e at one end of the plate D the said plate D may be turned upon the pivots e at the opposite end of said plate, so that a tilting motion may be given to the said-plate D around the pivots at either end when occasion requires, as hereinafter explained. The edges 9 of the plate D must be rabbeted to form guides for the flanges h of the circumferentially grooved roller E when the latter is moved to and fro on the plate D, as hereinafter explained. The rollers O. and E may be carried upon opposite ends of the same shaft F, and receive their motion through a forked pitman, G, the forked end of which is attached to the extremities of the shaft F, while its other end connects with a crank, H, of a shaft, I, that through beveled gears J K connects with another shaft, L, to which motion may be given by a band wheel or pulley, M. I

N is a longitudinally-groowzd plate, the inher end of which is hinged or pivoted, as represented at 5. Between this inner plate, N, and the adjaeent'end of the plate D is an opening, P, through which the completed pillsrmay pass when discharged from the machine, as hereinafter explained.

Provided at each sideof-theframe A-are affixed inclined planes R, slopin g downward and outward, as represented in Fig. 2, and in the upper surfaces of which are formed V-shaped grooves or guides j, as represented in Fig. 4.

Upon each of the fixed inclined planes R is a movable slide, S, the under side of which forms an inclined plane, the direction or inclination of which is the reverse of that of the fixed incline plane R, upon which it rests. The under side of each slide S is made to fit. into theV-shaped guidej of theinclined plane R, which supports it, and each of said slides S has in its horizontal upper surface a V- 'shaped guide, 70, to receive and carry the lateral portions oi of a frame, T, hereinafter fully described. The slides S are connected together at their outer ends by a cross-bar, U. From this cross-bar U, and projecting outward at an inclination corresponding to the incline of the under sides of the slides S, is a rod or'arm, W. This armpasses through a suitable slot formed in a fixed shoulder, a, and has at its outer end a stud, r.

Placed around the arm W, between the stud 1' and the fixed shoulder a, is a spiralspring, it, which tends to force the arm W, and consequently the slides S, in an outward direction. This has of course a tendency to lower the frame T. The outer end of the arm W bears against a cam, Y, the circumferential contour of which is such that during a portion of its revolution-as, for example, that from a to b-it will force inward the arm W, and consequently the slides S, to lilt the frame T, and during the remainder of its revolution will permit the spring a to force outward the arm W, and consequently the slides S, to gradually lower the frame T. This cam Y is placed upon a shaft, Z, upon the outer end of which is a spur-wheel, A, which gears into a spurpinion, B, on the shaft L. The frame T connects by a forked pitman, G, with an eccentric, D, on the shaft L, so that a reciprocating movement lengthwise of the plate N is given to the said frame T.

E is a plate, grooved on its under side to correspond with the grooves of the plate N, and hinged at one side, as shown at a, to the adjacent side of the frame T, and provided at its opposite lateral edge with studs d, which, when the plate E is brought down into position in the frame T, lap over the adjacent side of said frame T and rest thereon. Provided upon said adjacent side of the frame T are buttons c, which maybe turned over the stud d to hold down the plate E, and which may he turned away from said stud d when it is desired to release the plate E previous to turning it upward and outward, as presently hereinafter explained.

It is to be observed that the upper surface of the plate B should be flat-that is'to say, without grooves; that the grooves in the roller 0 should be of such depth that the cuttingedges provided between said grooves will (in the operation of the said roller 0 upon a sheet or layer of pill-mass placed upon the plate B) out something more than one-half through the depth or thickness of the layer or sheet of mass. It is preferable that these grooves of the roller 0 be such that in the cutting operation just mentioned the layeror; thickness of the mass be cut through fronftwothirds to three-quarters of its depth or thickness. It follows of course that, while the grooves of the rollerCare approximately semicircular in their cross-section, they are not entirely so. The grooves of the roller E and those of the plate 1) are substantially semicircularin their crosssectiou, the ultimate cylindric shape of the strips of mass being given to the said strips by the coordinate operation ofthe roller E and the plate 1). The grooves of the platcsN and E are coincident. hen the pills are to be of spherical form the grooves in each of the said plates N and E will be substantially semicircular in their cross-section. When the pills are. to be of oblong or oval form the cross-section of the grooves of the said plates N and E must be given a form proper to the production of the shape of the pill required.

The operation of the invention is as follows: The pill-mass is placed upon theplate B, preferably in the form of a flat sheet of suitable thickness, care being taken to first dust the surface of the plate B with powdered chalk, rosin, or other material, which will have the effect of preventing the adhesion of the mass to the said surface of the plate B. The upper or exposed surface is in like manner dusted or coated with the same or similar material to prevent the adhesion of the mass to the roller 0. The apparatus being set in motion, the roller 0 rolls to and fro over the sheet of mass, whereupon the sharp cutting-edges between the grooves of the said roller cut through the mass to a depth of, say, from two-thirds to threequarters of the thickness of the mass, thereby dividing the sheet of mass longitudinally into partially-formed strips, which are connected at their under sides by the uncut portions of the mass. It is to be understood that this depth to which the mass is cut, as described, is limited or regulated by having the flanges b of 85 j the roller 0 so proportioned with reference to the rabbets a that when the said flanges are brought to run in contact with the horizontal surfaces of rabbets the latter constitute stops or supports to prevent the further downward action of the roller 0 upon the sheet of mass on the plate B. The upper surface of the said sheet of mass being thus longitudinally'divided into partially-formed strips, as just explaincd, the upper surface is again dusted or coated with the powdered chalk, rosin, or like material, in order that the deep channels or grooves cut in the sheet of mass'between the partially-formed strips may receive a portion of said powdered material, thereby coatin g with said material the fresh surfaces opened in the mass by the action of the roller 0. This done, the movement of the reciprocating parts of the apparatus is stopped, as hereinafter explained. The plate D, by means of one of its pivots e at the edge remotest lrom the plate B, is turned upward and over around its pivots e nearest the said plate B until its grooved surface rests upon the longitudinally-cut upper surface of the sheet of mass on the plate B-in otherwords, over and upon the partially formed strips-the grooves in the plate B being of such size and arrangement that when the plate D is brought over the plate 13, as just described, each groove in the plate D will rest upon and partially inclose one of the partiallyformed strips in the upperportion of the sheet of mass by the action of the roller 0', as just herelnhefore explained. This done, the two plates D and B, with the sheet of mass inclosed betweenthem,are simultaneouslyturned upon their pivots c and 0 until the plate D is brought back to its original position, whereupon the plate B is turned backward to the original position of the said plate. As a result of the operation just described, the sheet of mass is transferred from the plate 13 to the plate D, and is deposited upon the latter in an Inverted position with one of the connected and partially-formed strips in each of the grooves of the said plate D. Inasmuch as the grooves or spaces formedbetween the par- ICC IIO

o are effectually. secured.

55 i of rolling into pills are prevented from being r i tially-lormed strips of the mass, as-hereinb'ethat when'the latter isinverted upon the plate D, as just; described, there will be above each of. the sharp edgesbetween the-grooves of the plate D a space-lengthwise of said'sharp edge and situatedin the now underside of the mass, this space being more or less occupied by the powdered chalk, rosin, or the like material previously dusted upon the surface ofthe mass, as h'ereinbefore explained. It will also be observed that in this space there will be necessarilymore orless of atmospheric air. The mass being placed uponthe plate D, as de scribed, the now uppersurface ot' the tnass may be dusted or slightly coated with the powtiered chalk, rosin, or the like in order toprevent itsadhesion to the roller E. The apparatus'is again set in motion, and the roller E is caused totraverse toand fro upon the mass, and of course over the plate D,so that, the grooves inthe roller E being coincident with those-in the plate D, the sharp edges between the grooves ofthe said 'roller'E cut through the remaining portion of the thickness of the mass and complete the division of the latter into strips; and inasmuch as the grooves of the roller E andthose of the plate D areas nearly as practicable semicircular 'in their cross-section, itfollows thatthe strips shapedby theconjunction of the grooves in the roller E with I those of the plate D will be as nearly as possible ofa true cylindrical torm.

Inasmuch as the spaces hereinbef'ore described as provided in the mass above the sharp edges between the grooves of the plate D. are more or less occupied by powdered chalk, rosin, or the like,it follows that as the formation-of the cylindrical strips approaches completion the sharpedges between the grooves of the rollerEpass into these spaces before the rounding of the upper surfaces of the strips .is'finished, so that by this meansthe absolute separation of. the strips from each other and the proper finishing of their lateral portions Furthermore, by the same meansrthe proper coating of the said lateral portions of thestrips-with the powdered chalk, rosin, or the like is secured, so that the said strips during the subsequent operation retarded or clogged as they are rolled in the formationof the pills. Y Furthermore, inasmuch as theair in the spaces aforesaid of the mass is by the operation of shaping the upper sur' faces of the strips, asjustdescribed, more or less forced underneath the latter, the strips are loosened, so to speak,frotn' the grooves of the plate D, and are therebyenabled to fall or be readily discharged from the plate D in the requisite transfer of the strips to the plate N,

the plate D on which latter they undergo the rolling operation by which they are divided and shaped into pills.

In order to transfer the cylindrical strips front the plate D to the plate N, the tnotion of the apparatus is again stopped, the plate E is turned upward and outward around its hinge or pivot 0, thereby exposingtheplate N,which latter, by meansof the knob b, is turned upward and inward until it is brought over the plate D, the parts being so constructed and arranged that the grooved surface of'the plate N will rest slightlyv in contact with the upper surfaces of the cylindrical strips as they lie on the plate D, butwithout materially indentiug the same, the grooves of the plate N being in a direction at right angles to those of the plate D, and consequently at right angles to the length of the cylindrical strips as they lie in the grooves of the plate D.

In order to prevent thesharpedges between the grooves of the plate N from cutting too deeply into them lindrical strips of mass when the plate N is brought over the plate D', as just described, stops 0 may be, provided on the plate D, and, in conjunction withaproper construction of the hinges t; of the plate N, will keep theface of the latter at the requisite distance from that of the plate D. The

plate D and the plate N (in the position just described and retaining the c; lindrical strips of mass between them) are then simultaneously turned over until the plate N is brought back to its original position, which done, the plate D is reversed and brought bark to its former position. The plate E is then turned back tOits horizontal position in the frame K, and is there secured, as hereinbefore explained. When the plate la" is in this position its grooves are coincident with the grooves of the plate N, and, further, when the plate E is brought into position as just explained the part b of the cam Y should he in contact with the end of the rod W, in order that the slides S m y be forced inward to their fullest extent, in order that the frame '1 may beraised to the utmost extent to lteepthesharpedges between the grooves of the plate E substantially outof contact-with the cylindrical strips of mass as they lie upon the plate N in a direction transverse to the grooves of said plate N, as hereinbefore setforth. The apparatus beingagain set itt operation, the conttnued'rotation of the cam Y permits the spring U to move out aid the rod W, and consequently the slides S, thereby gradually lowering the lrame T, and as a consequence gradually loweiing the plate E upon the strips of the mass on the plate N. Simultaneous with this the reciprocating motion of the plate T moves the plate E to and l'roover the plate N, with its grooves coincident with the grooves of the said plateN.- This combined downward and reciprocating move ment of the plate E with reference to the plate N gives a'rolling movement to the cylindrical strips of the tnassand gradually divides them across into sections, each of which, when the rolling and dividing operation is completed, constitutes a pill, the cutting or dividing being performed by the coincident cutting edges between the grooves of theplates E and N, respectively, and the contour of the pill, whether spherical or oblong, is determined by that of the grooves of the said plates E and N, the grooves in the one of the said plates corresponding in its cross-section with the grooves in the other of the said plates. When the slides S have moved outward to an extent sufficient to lower the plate E to the degree requisite to insure the separation and formation of the pills, as just hereinbefore explained, the movement of the apparatus is again stopped, the plate E is again turned upward and outward on its hinges or pivots c, and the plate N is turned upward and inward on its hinges i, whereupon the pills roll off from the said plate into or through the opening P to any receptacle placed to receive them.

It is to be understood that the operation of partially dividing into stripsaquantity of mass on the plate B, of completing the formation into cylindrical strips of another quantity of mass on the plate B, and the separation into pills of still another quantity of mass in the torm of cylindrical strips on the plate N may all be carried on simultaneously, and also that the discharge of the pills from the plateN maybe eii'ected by the same movement of the said plate N, by which the said plate is brought over the plate 'D to receive the succeeding quantity ofcylindrioal strips, to bein theirturn shaped into pills.

It is also to be observed that the stopping and starting ofthe apparatus, as hereinbefore indicated, may be provided for by any suitable meansas, for example, by running the driving-belt of the driving-pulley M to and from a loose pulley, f.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. The herein-described method of making strips of mass for the manufacture of pills by forming the sheet of mass with parallel divisions extending through more than one-half of the thickness of thesheet, then inverting the sheet, and completing the separation of the strips by coincident divisions on the opposite side of said sheet, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

2. The herein-described method of preventing the adhesion of the cylindrical strips of mass to the mechanism whereby they are formed by providing the sheet of mass with paralleldivisions extending through more than one-half the thickness thereof, then inverting the partially-divided sheet into the grooves of a plate, D, the sharp edges between the grooves of which extend through only substantially one-half of the thickness of the sheet, and then separating the strips by parallel divisions co incident with those on the opposite or under side of the sheet, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

3. The method herein described of insuring the separation of the cylindrical strips of mass by first forming the sheet of mass with parallel divisions extending through more than one-half the thickness of the sheet, then filling to a greater or less degree the said divisions with powdered chalk, rosin or similar material, then inverting the said sheet and completing the formation of the strips by coincident divisions on the opposite side of the sheet, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

4. The combination, in a pill machine, ofthe following elements, namely: a substantially plain-faced plate, B, for receiving a sheet or quantity of mass, a mechanical device for forming paralleldivisionsin the mass toadepth greater than one-half of the thickness of the said mass, a plate, D, having grooves ofacontour substantially correspondent with the divided surface of the mass to be operated upon, and a mechanical device for dividing the opposite surface of the mass coincident with the divisions first made therein, the whole provided for joint use and operation, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

5. The combination,in a machine for making pills, of a grooved plate, N, a coincidentallygrooved plate, E, and mechanism, substantial: 1y as described, for imparting a simultaneous downward and reciprocating movement to the plate E, with reference to the plate N, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

U. Thecombination of the substantially plainfaced plate B, grooved plate D, and grooved rollers G and E, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

7. The grooved plate D,constructed and arranged to be tilted or turned in opposite directions, in combination with the plates B and N,

and mechanism, substantially as described,for

forming divisions in the mass on the plate 13, for completing the division of the mass into cylindrical strips on the plate D, and for dividing and shaping the strips into pills on the plate N, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

8. The combination of the inclined planes R, the slides S, the reciprocating plate E,a.nd mechanism, substantially as described, for giving a longitudinal movement to the slides S, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

9. The combination of the frame T, the grooved plate E, and grooved plate N, sub stantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

JAMES A. WHITNEY.

Witnesses:

RoBER'r H. GRIFFIN, H. F. PARKER. 

